Best Black Owned Restaurants In Austin

Jump to: Barbecue & Soul Food | Downtown | Suburban

Austin’s culinary landscape is rich, diverse, and rapidly evolving. From world-class pits serving up smoky Central Texas brisket to vibrant downtown spaces and comforting suburban mainstays, supporting local culinary talent is one of the tastiest ways to experience the city. Whether you are celebrating Juneteenth or simply searching for your next favorite meal, this living guide showcases the very best culinary destinations the city has to offer.

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Also check out these articles – Best Late Night Food Austin, Best Patio Restaurants in Austin, Austin Seafood Restaurants, Best Austin Rooftop Bars & Restaurants, and Best Sushi Restaurants in Austin!

Barbecue & Soul Food: Black-Owned Restaurants in Austin

Distant Relatives

Image credit: distatantrelativesatx.com

Distant Relatives serves up an extraordinary heritage-centric culinary experience, pulling flavor profiles and techniques from the African diaspora to elevate traditional Texas barbecue. Expect deeply layered spices, house-made condiments, and incredibly tender meats that celebrate African American culinary roots.

Operating Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 11 am – 6 pm
Where: 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744
How Much: $18 – $30 per person

Sam’s BBQ

An institutional bedrock of East Austin, Sam’s BBQ has stood the test of time, serving up classic Central Texas ribs, brisket, and mutton under the legendary slogan, “You don’t need no teeth to eat our meat!” It is an authentic, historic gem with unparalleled local character.

Operating Hours: Daily 10 am – 8 pm
Where: 2000 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702
How Much: $12 – $25 per person

Fowler’s Smokin Soul Food

Fowler’s beautifully bridges the line between classic East Texas barbecue pits and traditional Southern soul food. While they don’t currently have a physical restaurant, they offer to-go orders for pickup and have a customizable catering menu for large parties and events. Their smothered oxtails, candied yams, and fall-off-the-bone ribs draw crowds from all across the area.

Operating Hours: Contact them for catering services
How Much: $15 – $25 per person

Trap House Caribbean

Image credit: Trap House Caribbean & Seafood Facebook

A vibrant, casual spot situated in the downtown area, Trap House Caribbean serves up flavorful crab and shrimp boils, Caribbean-inspired platters, and Cajun-seasoned dishes.

Operating Hours: Wednesday – Monday 8 am – 1:59 am | Tuesday Closed
Where: 310 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
How Much: $40 – $90 per person

Downtown Gems: Black-Owned Restaurants – Austin Downtown

Austin’s Very Own Saltt

Saltt Austin brings an energetic, chic vibe to the downtown area, offering an exceptional fusion of contemporary American classics with vibrant Caribbean and Southern influences. It’s a prime spot for weekend brunches or an upscale evening dinner with handcrafted cocktails.

Operating Hours: Monday – Tuesday & Thursday 11 am – 8 pm | Friday 11 am – 9 pm | Saturday 10:30 am – 9 pm | Sunday 10:30 am – 5 pm | Wednesday Closed
Where: 2525 W Anderson Ln. ste 130 bldg 3, Austin, TX 78757
How Much: $25 – $50 per person

Whip My Soul

Image credit: Whip My Soul Facebook

Bringing the warmth of upscale Southern comfort straight to the heart of Austin, Whip My Soul pairs a sleek, modern ambiance with timeless recipes, like hot honey chicken waffles and crispy-fried catfish baskets.

Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11 am – 9 pm | Monday Closed
Where: 11416 N FM 620 Unit F and G, Austin, TX 78726
How Much: $15 – $30 per person

Kalimotxo

More of an elevated experience, Kalimotxo is a Spanish restaurant and cocktail bar that celebrates a range of Spanish cuisines. From Basque-style pintxos loaded with uni and jamón to large plates built around Texas ingredients and Spanish technique, they have quite the menu selection. Kalimoxto also has an extensive drink menu.

Operating Hours: Sunday – Thursday 4 pm – 10 pm | Friday – Saturday 4 pm – 11 pm
Where: 1813 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
How Much: $40 – $90 per person

Suburban Mainstays: Pflugerville & Round Rock

Tony’s Jamaican Food

Image credit: Tony’s Jamaican Food Facebook

Operating a highly rated stationary truck and brick-and-mortar storefront system on the Pflugerville/Round Rock border, Tony’s delivers incredibly vibrant flavor profiles. The oxtail stew, beef patties, and coco bread are unmatched in the north suburbs.

Operating Hours: Sunday – Monday 11 am – 8 pm | Tuesday Closed | Wednesday – Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
Where: 2700 W Pecan St Ste 650, Pflugerville, TX 78660
How Much: $12 – $20 per person

Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant

Easily accessible to residents living across North Austin, Pflugerville, and Round Rock, Habesha delivers exceptionally authentic kitfo, tibs, and veggie platters in a warm, inviting communal atmosphere.

Operating Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11 am – 9 pm | Friday – Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
Where: 6019 Interstate 35, Austin, TX 78752
How Much: $15 – $30 per person

Nana B’s Country Kitchen

Nana B’s brings traditional home-style cooking and soul food to the community. Enjoy comforting sides like collard greens and yams, with hearty soul food entrees like oxtail and catfish. They even have a kids’ menu, so even the little ones can enjoy a taste of the goodness. Bringing traditional home-style cooking and soul food to the Round Rock community.

Operating Hours: Monday Closed | Tuesday – Saturday 11 am – 7 pm | Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm
Where: 101 Limmer Loop Ste 100, Round Rock, TX 78665
How Much: $15 – $30 per person

Know Before You Go

While many of these amazing Black-owned restaurants are located within the historic inner loops and East Austin neighborhoods, the culinary footprint extends deeply into the surrounding northern suburbs. Foodies residing in Pflugerville, Round Rock, and Cedar Park will find exceptional soul food, barbecue, and international options right in their backyards, typically within a short 15 to 20-minute drive. If you are planning to visit highly popular barbecue venues like Distant Relatives or Sam’s BBQ over the weekend or around Juneteenth holidays, consider arriving 15-30 minutes before opening, as lines form quickly and items frequently sell out early!

Common Questions about Black-Owned Restaurants in Austin

Which Black-owned restaurants in Austin offer great vegetarian or vegan options?

Both Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant and Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant provide extensive, traditionally prepared vegan and vegetarian platters featuring lentils, split peas, and collard greens served over gluten-free injera bread. Distant Relatives also highlights seasonal vegetarian sides with African-diaspora flavor profiles.

Are there upscale Black-owned spots downtown suitable for date nights or celebrations?

Yes! Saltt Austin, located right in the heart of downtown Red River cultural district, offers an incredible high-end ambiance, fantastic cocktail programs, and elegant plating that makes it perfect for date nights, Juneteenth celebrations, and birthdays.

Do any of these spots offer specific specials for Juneteenth in Austin?

Many local spots like Distant Relatives, Sway’s Soul Food, and Saltt Austin offer custom operational hours, specialized heritage platters, or celebratory menu add-ons around June 19th to honor the holiday. It is highly recommended to check their official social channels or primary websites ahead of time.

Looking for more? See the upcoming Weekend Events in Austin.

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Lacey Morris

Lacey is a freelancer and Austin local who’s always on the hunt for new restaurants to try, fun activities to do, and local events to attend. She loves sharing her discoveries with others through her writing and hopes her work encourages both visitors and locals to be active in the community. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring one of the city’s many hiking trails with her Blue Heeler, Oreo, getting lost in a good book, or dancing the night away to some house or techno beats at one of her favorite rave spots.